Britannica Sources used in this answer

What seasonal event was associated with the festival of Imbolc?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The festival of Imbolc is associated with the beginning of spring. Celebrated on February 1, it also marks the lambing season, as indicated by the term oímelc, which translates to "sheep milk".12

Historically, Imbolc served as a festival of purification for farmers, a practice that has been compared to the Roman lustrations. The event was closely linked to the goddess Brigit, and following the Christianization of Europe, it became associated with the feast day of St. Brigit.12